Bottle stopper sealing strip remover



A. B. DODGE Nov. 14, 1939.

BOTTLE STOPPER SEALING STRIP REMOVER Filed Oct. 1, 1938 IWENmR.

A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE STOPPER SEALING STRIP REMOVER Claims.

This invention relates to bottle stopper sealing strip removers.

It has long been common practice to wrap a partially transparent sealing strip of relatively 5 tough flexible water proof sheet material, having a base of cellulose or similar material, around the periphery of a bottle stopper and the adjacent neck of the bottle after the usual revenue stamp has been applied. This is particularly true of whiskey bottles. The purchaser can thus readily assure himself that the original contents of the bottle has not been tampered with. As the sealing strips are formed with sight openings or windows the revenue stamps beneath the sealing strips are visible for the inspection of Government agents. However, considerable difficulty is encountered in quickly removing these strips due to the nature of the strip and the fact that the revenue stamp, which under Internal Revenue Department regulations must always remain in legible condition, is likely to be removed accidentally with the sealing strips.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for facilitating the breaking or removal of bottle stopper sealing strips from whiskey bottles and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawing,

in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of a bottle showing the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the split ring; and

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing i denotes a conventional glass whiskey bottle having threads 2 formed in the neck portion 3 thereof for thread-edly receiving a metal cap or stopper 4, also of old and well known construction.

Resiliently seated in a peripheral groove 5, formed in the bottle neck immediately below the threads 2, is a split ring 6, of slightly resilient wire, it being customary for the bottle maker to provide threaded bottle necks with the groove 5, primarily to enhance the appearance of the bottle. The split ring 6, which is preferably formed of slightly resilient wire, is bent intermediate its ends to form a loop portion 1, which projects radially from the groove 5. The ring with the exception of the protruding loop I, is preferably slightly countersunk or flush with respect to the periphery of the bottle neck.

Preferably the split rings are applied by the bottle manufacturer. However, the split rings may be shipped separately for assembly by the bottler, in the manner above indicated.

As previously stated it is customary to place a sealing strip over the cap or other stopper 4, to 5 prevent tampering with the contents of the bottle, and to minimize danger of contamination from foreign matter. Thus, in the drawing I have shown the bottle I, having a conventional sealing strip or band 8, applied thereto. The 10 strip 8, which is of any suitable tough material, such as cellulose, covers and completely conceals the split ring 6. However, the looped portion 1, of the ring 5, forms a small hump in the sealing strip which enables the bar tender or other per- 15 son opening the bottle to readily locate the loop, for a purpose presently described.

Both legs 9 of the loop I, are slightly flattened and sharpened to provide oppositely disposed knife or cutting edges I0 adjacent the juncture of 20 these legs with the body portion of the split ring. If the bottle is held firmly in the left hand and the sealing strip fractured adjacent the loop I, with the thumb nail of the right hand, in an obvious manner, the loop may be readily grasped between the forefinger and thumb. If the split ring is now rotated in either direction one of the cutting edges It will form a circular cut through the sealing strip and permit removal of the stopper. This obviates the necessity of using a knife or other instrument in removing the sealing strip, with consequent danger of destroying the revenue stamp or injury to the stopper.

It might be stated here that the so called sealing strips or bands 8 are made in the form of 35 tubes cut to appropriate length and then slipped over the top of the corked bottle neck. These strips have the properties of shrinking to a tight fit on the bottle neck, when exposed to the air, and are thus adapted to conform closely to the contour of the bottle neck and cap immediately 40 after assembly.

Having thus described my invention:

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a split 45 ring formed of resilient metal, said ring having an offset loop portion, said loop portion formed with a cutting edge.

2. In a device of the class described, a split ring formed of resilient metal, said ring having an offset loop portion intermediate its ends, said ring being formed with cutting edges on opposite sides of said loop.

3. A sealed package comprising a container having neck portion formed with a filling open- 55 ing, a closure member for said opening, a flexible sealing member for sealing the closure member in the container, said neck portion being formed with a groove, a flexible split ring seated in said groove for rotation therein in clockwise and anticlockwise directions and completely concealed by said sealing member, said split ring formed with a protruding portion intermediate its ends and with oppositely disposed cutting surfaces.

4. In combination, a bottle having a peripheral groove in the neck thereof and a stopper for the bottle, a flexible sealing member for sealing the stopper in the bottle and a split ring seated in portion intermediate its ends having a cutting 10 edge thereon.

ARTHUR B. DODGE. 

